Speakers Demand in the Press Conference on 22 May 2011

Formulate Pro-poor and Decentralized Budget incorporating demands of under-privileged communities of the society

A national budget is a crucial legal and policy document that outlines government’s economic policies, revenue and expenditure motivations and expectations. For a 12-month period, the national budget entails the plan for the functioning of the economy. It follows that the national budget is of interest to everyone who resides in the country as it has implications for all. But in reality, it was found that demands and considerations of all sections of the society were not reflected in budget documents of Bangladesh.

A forum with representation of 22 development and rights organizations titled “Budget Bisoyok Nagorik Morcha” (Budget Advocacy Alliance) organized a press conference on 22 May 2011 in Conference Hall, National Press Club, Dhaka and pointed out following demands. Most of the organizations in the alliance have been advocating to prioritize poor and marginalized people’s especially farmers, labourers, indigenous people, physically and mentally challenged, dalits and women’s demand in the national budget process. Sushasoner Jonny Procharavizan SUPRO as a pioneer organization in budget campaign and advocacy engaging mass people, civil society members, different professional bodies, local government elected representatives, district and national policy makers, facilitating and actively participating as a member organization in Budget Bisoyok Nagorik Morcha.

Speakers at the human chain on the eve of COP 16 conference in Cancun, Mexico Reduce 45% greenhouse emissions by 2020 and industrially developed country must provide 1.5% of their GDP to climate fund

Sushasoner Jonny Pracharavizaan-SUPRO organized a Human Chain on 24th November, 2010 at 11 AM in front of National Museum, Sahbag, Dhaka on the eve of UNFCCC of COP 16 in Cancun, Mexico. Speakers of the human chain highlighted the impacts of climate change especially its adverse effects on the lives and livelihood of the people in Bangladesh demanding immidiate reparation of climate debt from the industrially developed countries.

Speakers demanded strongly to the industrially developed countries to reduce 45% greenhouse emissions by 2020 as well as to provide 1.5% of their GDP to climate fund. They demanded vigurously for special priority for Bangladesh in aloting of climate fund. They also strongly urged not to use climate crisis as a tool of profit or bussiness. In addition they claimed 0.7% GNI of rich countries as development assistnance.

Speakers at the Human Chain on the eve of Annual Meetings of World Bank and IMF

Stop Interference of World Bank in Climate Fund and Five-Year Planning of Bangladesh; Demand for reparation from WB, IMF and ADB for the losses of our Water and Natural Resources caused by their projectsSushasoner Jonny Pracharavizaan-SUPRO organized a Human Chain on 8th October, 2010 at 11 A.M. in front of National Press Club, Dhaka on the eve of Annual Meeting of IMF and World Bank on 8-9 October 2010.

The speakers of the Human Chain strongly demanded reparation from WB, IMF and ADB for excessive losses of water, forest and land resources of Bangladesh due to climate change and aid trade. They further demanded to ensure the rights of people especially to access essential services including water, power, education and health rights instead of commercialization and privatization. The government should improve their capacities to deliver these services rather than relying on the foreign agencies.